Mediterranean diet during pregnancy and infant neurodevelopment: A prospective birth cohort study

Fei-cai Dai; Fei-cai Dai; Fei-cai Dai; Fei-cai Dai; Peng Wang; Peng Wang; Peng Wang; Peng Wang; Qiong Li; Qiong Li; Qiong Li; Qiong Li; Lei Zhang; Lei Zhang; Lei Zhang; Lei Zhang; Li-jun Yu; Li-jun Yu; Li-jun Yu; Li-jun Yu; Lin Wu; Lin Wu; Lin Wu; Lin Wu; Rui-xue Tao; Peng Zhu; Peng Zhu; Peng Zhu; Peng Zhu

doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.1078481

Frontiers in Nutrition (Jan 2023)

Mediterranean diet during pregnancy and infant neurodevelopment: A prospective birth cohort study

Fei-cai Dai,
Fei-cai Dai,
Fei-cai Dai,
Fei-cai Dai,
Peng Wang,
Peng Wang,
Peng Wang,
Peng Wang,
Qiong Li,
Qiong Li,
Qiong Li,
Qiong Li,
Lei Zhang,
Lei Zhang,
Lei Zhang,
Lei Zhang,
Li-jun Yu,
Li-jun Yu,
Li-jun Yu,
Li-jun Yu,
Lin Wu,
Lin Wu,
Lin Wu,
Lin Wu,
Rui-xue Tao,
Peng Zhu,
Peng Zhu,
Peng Zhu,
Peng Zhu

Affiliations

Fei-cai Dai: Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Fei-cai Dai: MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Hefei, China
Fei-cai Dai: NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Fei-cai Dai: Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Peng Wang: Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Peng Wang: MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Hefei, China
Peng Wang: NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Peng Wang: Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Qiong Li: Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Qiong Li: MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Hefei, China
Qiong Li: NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Qiong Li: Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Lei Zhang: Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Lei Zhang: MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Hefei, China
Lei Zhang: NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Lei Zhang: Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Li-jun Yu: Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Li-jun Yu: MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Hefei, China
Li-jun Yu: NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Li-jun Yu: Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Lin Wu: Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Lin Wu: MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Hefei, China
Lin Wu: NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Lin Wu: Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Rui-xue Tao: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hefei First People's Hospital, Hefei, China
Peng Zhu: Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Peng Zhu: MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Hefei, China
Peng Zhu: NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Peng Zhu: Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.1078481
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9

Abstract

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BackgroundEmbryonic neural development is associated with intrauterine nutritional status. However, few cohort studies estimated the relationship between maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy and offspring's early neurodevelopment.ObjectiveTo examine the impact of the Mediterranean diet (MD) during pregnancy on infant neurodevelopment, including the potential mediating role of cord blood metabolites.MethodsAmong 1,471 mother–child pairs in a prospective birth cohort study in Hefei, China, we investigated the associations between maternal MD score [calculated based on a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)] and child neurodevelopment at infancy [assessed using Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3)]. The cord blood metabolic markers (including C-peptide, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides) were measured.ResultsThe MD score was negatively associated with communication domain developmental delays in infants [relative risk (RR) with 95% CI: 0.34 (0.16, 0.72)]. Compared with girls, boys born from mothers with lower MD scores during pregnancy were inclined to the failure of the communication domain [RRs with 95% CI for boys: 0.34 (0.14, 0.84); for girls: 0.26 (0.06, 1.18)]. Mediation analysis showed that the association between the maternal MD score and failure of communication domain mediated by C-peptide was 19.4% in boys but not in girls.ConclusionAdhering to the MD during pregnancy was associated with a decreased risk of poor neurodevelopment, possibly mediated by lower levels of cord blood C-peptide.

Published in Frontiers in Nutrition

ISSN: 2296-861X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Home economics: Nutrition. Foods and food supply
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/

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